Imbler's Jayda Cant looks to pass against Crane defenders during a quarterfinal game in the 1A state basketball tournament Feb. 29, 2024, at Baker High School. Crane won, 60-23.

BAKER CITY — Riding the excitement of downing eighth-seeded North Lake/Paisley in overtime the last time on the court, ninth-seeded Imbler hoped to pull another upset by downing top-ranked Crane.

The Mustangs had other ideas, holding the Panthers to single-digit scoring in three of the four quarters of  60-23 drubbing on Thursday, Feb. 29, in quarterfinal action of the 1A state basketball tournament in Baker City.

Crane started the game scoring the first 11 points before Jayda Cant put Imbler on the scoreboard with over three minutes off the clock. The Mustangs continued to find the basket and led at the end of the first eight minutes 24-5.

The second quarter was the best for the Panthers as Imbler outscored Crane 11-8 and hit the locker room at the half trailing 32-16.

The struggles continued in the second half for Imbler with the Panthers scoring five points in the third quarter and only two points in the final quarter versus the bench of the Mustangs.

Rachael Stirewalt, Moda’s Player of the Game for Imbler, led the Panthers with seven points and five rebounds. Cant ended with four points and both Marlen Rivas and Paiten Braseth put in three points.

Crane freshman Kaitlyn Siegner had 23 points.

Imbler struggled with turnovers with the Mustangs picking up 30 points off the Panthers giving up the ball. Imbler also saw Crane outscore the Panthers in the paint, 26-12.

Imbler (20-8 overall) will have an early breakfast as the Panthers take on fourth-seed County Christian (21-8 overall) starting at 8 a.m. in the consolation bracket of the 1A state basketball tournament at Baker High School.